Track-switch.



PATENTED JULY 2, 1907.

J. A. MEREDITH.

TRACK SWITCH APPLICATION rum) mm. 28, 1901.

ii AI 5 613% use: 0%? 7% as.

rm: NORRIS PETERS co.. wAsnmcrmN, n. c

JOHN A. MEREDITH, OF RILEY, INDIANA.

TRACK-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed March 28,1907. Serial No- 365,152.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .ToHN A. MEREDITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Riley, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in track switches especially designed for street railways and to operating means therefor to be carried by a car.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical mechanism by means of which the motorman or other person in charge of the car may throw a switch point without stopping his car and dismounting from the same.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a track provided with my improved switch; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through the same, and also through one end of a car and the switch operating devices thereon; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the parts shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail section through the pivoted end of one of the cams or levers for actuating the switch point; and Fig. 5 is a detail section through the switch point, showing the manner in which it is connected to its sliding actuating bar.

Referring to the drawings by numeral, 1 denotes the track rails of the main line, 2 denotes the track rails of the cutout or siding and 3 denotes a movable switch point having one of its ends suitably pivoted at 4 and its other end loosely connected to a sliding bar 5, as shown in Fig. 5. The bar 5 extends transversely of the track and slides through apertures 6 in the rails 1, and said connection consists in forming a recess 7 in the bottom of the bar 5 and seciu'ing a strap 8 to the bottom of the point 3, said strap being seated in said recess and the point resting upon the top of the bar 5 so that a loose connection is effected between said parts. The point carrying bar 5 is actuated by two cams or levers 9, 10 arranged upon the opposite sides of the track rails 1 and each having one of its ends pivoted and its other end loosely connected to one of the projecting ends of the bar 5. The pivoting of the levers 9, 10 is effected, as shown in Fig. 3, by forming in them vertical apertures to receive pivot bolts, or the like, 11 which also pass through bearing blocks 12 which are bolted, as shown at 13, to the track rails 1 and upon which said levers 9, 10 rest. The loose connection between said levers and the bar 5 is effected by forming the opposite ends of the levers with reduced tongues 14 which project through and slide in slots or openings 15 formed in the ends of 3 will be actuated. This operation of the cams or levers is preferably effected by the motorman or other person upon a car 16 by depressing one of the switch operating devices 17 which it carries. Four of said devices are preferably provided upon each car, two at each of its ends, as shown in Fig. 2. Each of said devices comprises a depending frame or bracket 18 having flanges 19 at its upper end for attachment to a car and having its lower end bifurcated, as at 20, for the reception of a wheel or roller 22 provided upon one side with an annular, radially projecting flange 23. The journals of the wheel 22 are mounted in bearings 24 mounted for sliding movement in vertical slots or openings 25 formed in the lower end of the hanger or bracket 18. Said bearings are connected to the forked or bifurcated lower end 26 of a push rod 27 which is mounted for vertical sliding 7 5 movement in said hanger or bracket and has its upper end projecting through an opening in the bottom of the car and provided with a foot piece 28. The latter is held elevated by coil springs 29 arranged in the slots 25 beneath the bearings 24 so that bearings are forced upwardly and normally support the flanged wheel 22 above the track. When the foot piece 28 is depressed, the Wheel 22 is lowered so that it engages the top of one of the'levers or cams 9 and its flange 23 engages the outer edge of said lever or cam and, as the car moves forwardly forces said lever inwardly and shifts the position of the switch point 3.

The construction, operation and advantages of the invention will be readily seen from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It will be noted that when a car approaches the cut-out or siding 2, the motorman will depress one or the other of the foot pieces 28 at the front of the car, according to the position of the switch 3 and according to whether he desires to continue on the main track or to pass onto the siding.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with track rails of a main line and a siding, and a movable switch point, of a transverse bar slidably mounted in openings in said track rails, said bar having its projecting outer ends formed with openings and its intermediate portion formed with a seat, a strap upon said switch point and engaged with said seat to loosely connect said point with said bar,

bearing blocks arranged upon the outer faces of said ings and arranged in the bifurcated lower end of said rails and cam bars or levers pivoted upon said blocks hanger and springs arranged in the latter beneath said and having tongues at their opposite ends to project bearings.

through and slide in the openings in the outer ends of In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in 5 said Sliding bar. presence of two Witnesses.

2. A switch point actuating device comprising a hanger v for attachment to a car and having a bifurcated lower JOHN end formed with guide slots 01' openings, a push rod Witnesses: slidable in said hanger and having a forked lower end HENRY LEE,

10 provided with bearings, a wheel journaled in said bear- WM. ASPERGER. 

